Brussels, 12/02/2004 (Agence Europe) - The political situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the EU's relations with this country were at the centre of talks between Joseph Kabila, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo and his EU interlocutors in Brussels on Wednesday. Joseph Kabila finished his European tour with a second meeting with Javier Solana, the EU High Representative for foreign and security policy, and Romano Prodi, President of the European Commission, together with Development Commissioner Poul Nielson.
"It was a very amicable meeting. The Commission welcomed progress made in the framework of the country's reunification and pacification in 2003 and the first months of 2004. The work has been difficult, but substantial progress has been made, if we consider the peace conditions just eighteen months ago. We have invited President Kabila to continue the process of democratic transition until the date set. We have stressed the electoral process and the minimum conditions necessary to arrive at elections in time, with the setting up of the independent electoral commission. We agree to work together in this difficult time for peace", Romano Prodi told the press (unofficial translation). He added that the European Commission had committed to supply substantial aid for the political elections, and to encourage donors to do the same in support of democratic elections. He also took stock of "the Commission's considerable support to the disarmament and integrated police process", to a total of 5 million EUR.
Thanking the Commission for this support to the "political process underway and for helping the interim government to go into the elections as soon as possible, as planned", Joseph Kabila added that security in the country, but also in the Great Lakes area of Africa in general, and EU/DRC co-operation had also been discussed. "I criticised the delays caused by bureaucracy in the treatment of dossiers related to projects in DRC. We agreed on measures to rectify the situation", he said.
Answering a question from the press as to whether King Albert II of Belgium had been invited to Kinshasa before the elections, Joseph Kabila replied: "we are expecting members of the government, maybe the Prime Minister, and the King later on". - "And the President of the European Commission?", asked Romano Prodi, tongue in cheek. "I have invited him and I expect him", replied Joseph Kabila in the same vein.
"I congratulate President Kabila on the work that has been done as part of reunification and pacification since our last meeting in Kinshasa in July 2003. What is happening in DRC is of considerable importance for the rest of the African continent. The European Commission's Artemis operation sent out the signal of the EU's greater commitment in the Great Lakes region. We hope to be able to continue to use all our support instruments to help with the stabilisation and democratisation process in the country", said Javier Solana, who encouraged the President to organise free and transparent elections in the timeframe laid down in the transition agreement, and actively to pursue a policy of normalisation of relations with their neighbours. "The EU sees the International Conference Great Lakes as an important framework to achieve this end", he added.
The High Representative for CFSP also assured the Congolese President of the EU's support in training the integrated police unit in Kinshasa, and added that "the reforms of the army and the police are essential, and will allow DRC to recover its unity and territorial integrity".
Commissioner Poul Nielson specified the EU's commitments relating to co-operation with DRC under the Cotonou agreement to President Kabila. The 660 million EUR granted to the country under the 9th EDF for the period 2003-2007 have been engaged as follows: restoration of road, social and legal infrastructure (192.19 million EUR), support to health sector (67.5 million), support programme for justice (7.5 million), support for transition to democracy (116 million, 5 of which in support of the integrated police unit), support for agriculture and environmental management (17 million), support for repayment of overseas debt (146.5 million), costs for administrative management, studies and miscellaneous (8.4 million EUR). On top of these funds comes aid funded by the Community budget (humanitarian aid: 44 million EUR for 2003 and 40 million for 2004, human rights and democracy: 6.4 million, food aid: 4.7 million, co-funding of NGOs: 8.5 million).